#1/1 Vols Roll Past Royals with 14-3 Victory
UT Sports

#1/1 Vols Roll Past Royals with 14-3 Victory

Posted on March 26, 2025

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 1/1 Tennessee started its week off with a convincing 14-3 victory over Queens on Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Volunteers (23-2) scored 10 combined runs in the fifth and sixth innings to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 12-3 lead before tacking on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth for good measure.

Nine different Vols had hits on the night, including multi-hit efforts from Andrew Fischer (2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI), Reese Chapman (2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Blake Grimmer (2-for-3, 2 R, 5 RBI).

Grimmer Makes Most of Opportunity

Grimmer earned his first-career start, getting the nod at designated hitter, at made the most of it, setting career highs in hits, runs scored and RBIs. The Michigan native had an RBI groundout in the second inning, a two-run single in the fifth and capped his impressive night with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, his third long ball of the season.

Plenty of Arms Saw Action

Ten pitchers saw action on Tuesday evening for Tennessee and combined to strike out 18 batters, which was the second most in a game this season.

Redshirt junior lefthander Michael Sharman made his first start at UT and tossed a scoreless first inning to get things started on the right foot. Austin Breedlove followed by striking out the side in the second inning on just 11 pitches before handing the ball off to Bryson Thacker, who worked a clean third inning in his second career appearance.

Brandon Arvidson earned the win after tossing two shutout frames. The junior lefty allowed just one hit and struck out four batters to improve to 2-0 on the year.

Up Next

The Vols travel to South Carolina for a weekend series against the Gamecocks. Game one is slated for a 7 p.m. first pitch on Friday night at Founders Park.

Fifth Child Flu Death is Reported in Tennessee

Fifth Child Flu Death is Reported in Tennessee

Posted on March 25, 2025

A fifth child flu death has been reported in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Department of Health this death is since the season started on October 1st, for privacy reasons, further details of location and age are withheld from their report.

The department’s weekly flu report has shown two new pediatric deaths in the state from the week of March 9.

Throughout the state, there have been 76 reported flu outbreaks since the season began.

From March 9-15, there was a slight uptick in positive cases but a downturn in outpatient visits in the state.

A link to the full report can be found https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep-weeklyreports/flu_summary/ILI_Summary_202511.pdf

Grainger County Sheriff’s Office along with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Other Agencies Arrest a Man on Numerous Charges Including Drugs
WVLT

Grainger County Sheriff’s Office along with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Other Agencies Arrest a Man on Numerous Charges Including Drugs

Posted on March 25, 2025

The Grainger County Sheriff’s Office arrests two people after four pounds of meth was found during a drug bust in Bean Station.

Officials with the sheriff’s office, Drug Task Force, Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at a home on Rocky Summit Road on Friday.

During the search, they found several bags of methamphetamine in a building that John Gardner was staying, the bags weighed about four pounds.

Officers also found an AR-style firearm, several fully-loaded magazines, a rifle and $694 in cash.

The Tennessee Department of Children Services was also called to the home because there was a four-year-old child in the driveway when officers arrived on the scene.

Gardner was charged with possession of methamphetamine for resale, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and maintaining a drug dwelling.

Rachel Emert was also arrested at the home for a warrant out of Claiborne County.

Brush Fire on Sharp’s Ridge is Now Fully Contained
WVLT

Brush Fire on Sharp’s Ridge is Now Fully Contained

Posted on March 25, 2025

UPDATE: A brush fire on Sharp’s Ridge is now fully contained.

The fire broke out yesterday (Tuesday) as Knoxville Fire Department crews were called to the scene off Broadcast Way.

TN State Division of Forestry was called to assist and continued to work the fire throughout the night and into this morning.

Officials say you will still see active fire and smoke due to the ongoing operations so there is no need to call 911 for fires seen in this area.

A brush fire on Sharp’s Ridge is approximately 10 acres in size and is 25 percent contained. 

The fire broke out yesterday (Tuesday) as Knoxville Fire Department crews were called to the scene off Broadcast Way.  

TN State Division of Forestry was called to assist and continued to work the fire throughout the night and into this morning.

Officials say you will still see active fire and smoke due to the ongoing operations so there is no need to call 911 for fires seen in this area.

Gibbs High School Alum Kenny Chesney to be Inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame

Gibbs High School Alum Kenny Chesney to be Inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame

Posted on March 25, 2025

(Story courtesy of WVLT News)

Nashville, TN (WVLT) East Tennessee native and former Gibbs High School student Kenny Chesney is set to enter the Country Music Hall of Fame.

From Luttrell, Tennessee, Chesney has earned 16 platinum albums, more than 50 top-ten country hits and 23 No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart.

Chesney spent time in Knoxville before making it big in the country music world and attended Gibbs High School, the same alma mater as fellow country star Morgan Wallen.

With hits like “The Good Stuff,” ”There Goes My Life” and “The Boys of Fall,” Chesney has been voted CMA Entertainer of the Year four times: in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

From Luttrell, Tennessee, Chesney has earned 16 platinum albums, more than 50 top-ten country hits and 23 No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart. (Courtesy: Country Music Hall of Fame via You Tube)
Roane County School Bus Driver Facing Slew of Charges after Crash Injures Two Students

Roane County School Bus Driver Facing Slew of Charges after Crash Injures Two Students

Posted on March 25, 2025

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 3/25: A Roane County school bus driver is now facing a slew of charges after a crash Monday morning that injures two students.

Officials with the Tennessee Highway Patrol say 64-year-old Paul Perrin was driving the bus on Ponders Gap Road just before 8:00 a.m. when it went off the right side of the road, down an embankment and came to a stop against a tree. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Twenty-one students were on board the bus at the time of the crash; two were injured in the incident.

THP says Perrin has been charged with false reporting, reckless endangerment, child abuse, aggravated reckless driving, due car and violating the hands-free law.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating after two students are injured in a school bus crash in Roane County.

THP says 64-year-old Paul Perrin was driving the bus on Ponders Gap Road yesterday (Monday) morning when it went off the right side of the road and went down an embankment, coming to a stop against a tree. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

21 students on board the bus at the time of the crash, two were injured and their conditions have not been released.

THP says charges are pending against Perrin. District Attorney General Russell Johnson says the charges are related to Perrin being on his cell phone when he ran off the road.

After Nearly 50 Years, Rural Metro Fire to Begin Charging Non-Subscribers for Emergency Services

After Nearly 50 Years, Rural Metro Fire to Begin Charging Non-Subscribers for Emergency Services

Posted on March 25, 2025

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) For the first time in almost 50 years, Rural Metro Fire will begin charging its non-subscribers for emergency medical services.

The department, making that announcement Monday before Knox County commissioners, says it will start charging non-subscribers a flat fee of $600 per call beginning sometime after April 15.

Officials shared that first responder medical missions, such as automobile wrecks, account for about 60% of all of Rural Metro’s calls for service and that fee-for-service charges can no longer financially sustain the company’s local operations.

Though it charges non-subscribers for responding to fires on a per-call basis,  Rural Metro has not charged non-subscribers for first responder medical services since it started Knox County operations in 1977.

Rural Metro says residential subscriptions for the department’s services run an average of $425 a year and vary based on the size of the home.

The department said it will start charging non-subscribers a flat fee of $600 per call beginning sometime after April 15. (Courtesy: Rural Metro Fire)
Rossini Festival- Knoxville Opera- April 12th & 13th

Rossini Festival- Knoxville Opera- April 12th & 13th

Posted on March 25, 2025

The Rossini Festival is Knoxville Opera’s annual International Street Fair that celebrates the global impact on the music, food, art, and culture of East Tennessee.

Throughout the festival, the public is treated to non-stop entertainment on four outdoor stages showcasing opera, classical, jazz, gospel, ethnic music, ballet, modern, and ethnic dance. Attendees can purchase from scores of food vendors and more than 75 artisans throughout the day, while The Y FunZone keeps children entertained. More than half a million residents of Knox County and the surrounding area have enjoyed the Rossini Festival over the years.

Fun and family-oriented. Admission is always free.

Learn more

Rossini Festival

  • Saturday, April 12, 202510:00 AM 
    Sunday, April 13, 20256:00 PM
Pickens Makes History as #7 Lady Vols Top #14 Arkansas, 3-2
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Pickens Makes History as #7 Lady Vols Top #14 Arkansas, 3-2

Posted on March 25, 2025

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The seventh-ranked Lady Vols closed out their SEC series against No. 14 Arkansas with a 3-2 victory at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on Monday night.
 
Down 2-0 after the top of the first inning, Tennessee (27-6, 3-3 SEC) quickly responded in the bottom of the first as Sophia Nugent put the Lady Vols on the board with a sacrifice fly. Laura Mealer followed with a two-RBI double to give Tennessee a 3-2 lead.
 
That would be all the offense either team would muster, as the game turned into a pitchers’ duel. After Arkansas’ (23-7, 3-6 SEC) Ella McDowell’s second-inning leadoff single, neither team would record another hit for the rest of the night.
 
The Razorbacks opened the scoring with a two-out-two-run home run from Bri Ellis.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
Tennessee’s pitchers dominated the final six innings. Starter Sage Mardjetko went 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three.
 
Junior Karlyn Pickens came on with two out in the third and shut down Arkansas with 4.1 scoreless, hitless innings, striking out six to earn her 11th win of the season in her 17th appearance.
 
HISTORY MADE
In the sixth inning, Pickens made history by throwing the fastest pitch in softball history at 78 mph, surpassing the previous record of 77 mph. The previous mark had been set by Tennessee legend Monica Abbott in 2012 as a professional with the Chicago Bandits and was matched by Pickens earlier this season.
 
DUE UP
The Lady Vols will travel to Norman, Oklahoma, to face the Sooners in their first matchup since Oklahoma joined the SEC. The three-game series is set for March 28-30, with Friday and Sunday’s games streamed on SEC Network+ and Saturday’s contest airing at 2 p.m. on ESPN.

Tennessee National Guard Rescues Injured Hiker in the Smokies
WVLT

Tennessee National Guard Rescues Injured Hiker in the Smokies

Posted on March 25, 2025

SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – A crew from the Tennessee National Guard rescued a hiker in the Great Smoky Mountains Saturday.

The state made the announcement Monday, saying guardsmen were called to rescue an injured hiker in a remote area in the park, near Ramsey Cascades, located east of Gatlinburg.

The crew — Capt. Andrew Rines and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Brasfield, the crew chief, Sgt. Christopher Burke, and two flight paramedics, Sgt. 1st Class John Sharbel and Giovanni Dezuani — responded around 7:30 p.m., after the hiker’s call reached the state around 5:30 p.m.

From there, the state said, the crews took a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to the hiker’s location. It took about 15 minutes for the crew to arrive. After getting to the park, the guardsmen took the hiker to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. The hiker’s condition is unknown.

While waiting on the National Guard, the state said, park rangers helped the hiker.

Story Courtesy of WVLT

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